Artwork copyright Thompson Brennan. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Thompson Brennan. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2020.

Devolver 4, 1991

Thompson Brennan
American (born 1951)

Location: Graham Elementary, Graham

About the Artwork

Devolver 4 is a mixed media collage by artist Thompson Brennan. It is part of a group of artworks addressing environmental consciousness. He notes, "The turtle image comes out of conversations with my mother Dorothy who has spent early morning hours moving endangered sea turtle eggs from beaches on the Florida coast near Fort Pierce… The invented paisley design in the central portion of the picture is a cross-cultural tie to India and a spiritually hot pattern of human consciousness. The pyramid at the left side of the picture is both a naturally occurring and, a human-made form; to me it symbolizes strength and stability. Above all this a plaid moon floating in a constellation of stars."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Bethel School District.

About the Artist

Northwest artist Thompson Brennan creates paintings, drawings, and installations for public spaces.
Born in San Francisco, Brennan has lived in Beirut (Lebanon), New York, Montreal (Canada), and Seattle, among other places. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Goddard College in Vermont. He also studied at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington D.C. In 2005, Brannan immigrated to Canada, where he is an instructor at the Visual College of Art and Design in Vancouver, British Columbia.